It’s a clash between the Jarkiholi brothers in bypoll-bound Gokak Assembly constituency, where some local political leaders say the electoral battle is likely to go down to the wire, with the stakes being high.
The bypoll to the seat in Belagavi district was necessitated following the resignation and subsequent disqualification of Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, after he rallied the rebels to topple the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition Government in the state.
While Ramesh Jarkiholi is now contesting the bypolls on a BJP ticket, his youngest brother Lakhan Jarkiholi is his opponent as a Congress nominee.
The battle for Gokak has also drawn the battle lines within the family, as their other brothers- Congress MLA from Yemkanmardi Satish Jarkiholi and Arabhavi BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi, supporting their siblings who are candidates from their respective parties.
